SAN DIEGO – Every defensive line coach wants to win the line of scrimmage, so Don Johnson is not unique in that respect.

It's the way he coaches that stands out.

Almost every drill he runs has to do with getting in the backfield, getting off the line at the snap. He preaches those things every few minutes and does not suffer what he perceives as anything less than absolute aggression.

“I think the main thing we are striving for is being quick off the ball and being physical,” Johnson said. “We want to play on their side of the line of scrimmage. To facilitate that, we have to be quick, explosive. You can make up for a lot of shortcomings by playing fast. And that's the thing, we are trying to take the thought process out of their mind. The ball is snapped, and this is my job. I'm going to do my job and I'm counting on the guy next to me to do his job and we are going to have success doing it.”

The players on the line are still getting used to Johnson, yet they already see the possibilities and the method to his madness.

“We're getting penetration upfield a lot more,” Jamal Williams said. “It's more of a different philosophy. It used to be all about stopping the run and holding down the line of scrimmage. Now, we've got a guy in Coach Johnson who emphasizes getting more penetration upfield which we, as players, didn't do as well last year. And he's putting more emphasis on that right now, especially during camp so we don't have any bad habits during the season.”

No comparisons

Norv Turner, having been in the NFL for a quarter century and having been the Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator for two Super Bowl victories, is asked from time to time to compare some of his current players to great players he has seen in the past.

He always sidesteps the question.

“Every player is different; every player's situation is different,” Turner said. “But I've always said this – and it's what LT (LaDainian Tomlinson) has done, and it's what Philip (Rivers) is getting ready to do and what Shawne (Merriman) is getting ready to do – if you want to be compared to those really great guys, go out and do it six or eight or 10 years in a row.

“ And I have also told the players from the first day I was here, if you want to be the best you better have great success in the playoffs, because that's ultimately what you'll be measured by – do you win playoff games and can you win a championship?”

Notes from camp

The Chargers were in pads for a third straight day Tuesday. That is in line with a camp that has been more physical and distinctively intense.

Merriman, coming off knee surgery, worked more reps than he has all camp. Particularly noticeable was his burst off the line of scrimmage.

After working the first four days (seven practices), Williams finally rested.

With no fourth quarterback in camp, long snapper David Binn has been busy. Binn throws a good ball to receivers when they're going against air, and he also dishes out handoffs to the running backs in their individual drills.

SAN DIEGO – Every defensive line coach wants to win the line of scrimmage, so Don Johnson is not unique in that respect.

It's the way he coaches that stands out.

Almost every drill he runs has to do with getting in the backfield, getting off the line at the snap. He preaches those things every few minutes and does not suffer what he perceives as anything less than absolute aggression.

“I think the main thing we are striving for is being quick off the ball and being physical,” Johnson said. “We want to play on their side of the line of scrimmage. To facilitate that, we have to be quick, explosive. You can make up for a lot of shortcomings by playing fast. And that's the thing, we are trying to take the thought process out of their mind. The ball is snapped, and this is my job. I'm going to do my job and I'm counting on the guy next to me to do his job and we are going to have success doing it.”

The players on the line are still getting used to Johnson, yet they already see the possibilities and the method to his madness.

“We're getting penetration upfield a lot more,” Jamal Williams said. “It's more of a different philosophy. It used to be all about stopping the run and holding down the line of scrimmage. Now, we've got a guy in Coach Johnson who emphasizes getting more penetration upfield which we, as players, didn't do as well last year. And he's putting more emphasis on that right now, especially during camp so we don't have any bad habits during the season.”

No comparisons

Norv Turner, having been in the NFL for a quarter century and having been the Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator for two Super Bowl victories, is asked from time to time to compare some of his current players to great players he has seen in the past.

He always sidesteps the question.

“Every player is different; every player's situation is different,” Turner said. “But I've always said this – and it's what LT (LaDainian Tomlinson) has done, and it's what Philip (Rivers) is getting ready to do and what Shawne (Merriman) is getting ready to do – if you want to be compared to those really great guys, go out and do it six or eight or 10 years in a row.

“ And I have also told the players from the first day I was here, if you want to be the best you better have great success in the playoffs, because that's ultimately what you'll be measured by – do you win playoff games and can you win a championship?”

Notes from camp

The Chargers were in pads for a third straight day Tuesday. That is in line with a camp that has been more physical and distinctively intense.

Merriman, coming off knee surgery, worked more reps than he has all camp. Particularly noticeable was his burst off the line of scrimmage.

After working the first four days (seven practices), Williams finally rested.

With no fourth quarterback in camp, long snapper David Binn has been busy. Binn throws a good ball to receivers when they're going against air, and he also dishes out handoffs to the running backs in their individual drills.